Chapter 8 assessment

Chapter 8, Section 1

1. How do geographers divide the large region that is known as Latin America? Geographers divide this large region up by where the region is located. Also they divide Latin America up by three sub-regions-Middle America (Mexico to Panama), the Caribbean, and South America.

2. What natural resources make Latin America an economically important region? The resources that make Latin America an economically important region are oil and natural gas, gold, silver, emeralds, copper, and bauxite (the main source of aluminum). Latin America has many different varieties of minerals, that are important to the rest of the world.

Creative Writing: The people of Latin America benefit greatly from their water systems. Write a paragraph that describes how the people use the region’s rivers. There are many different rivers in Latin America. For example, The people of the United States use the Rio Grande as a border between the two countries. Also, sailors use the Panama Canal to travel easily to the two oceans without going around the southern part of South America. Most of Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers form the second largest river system of South America. It drains the eastern half of South America, and also provide hydroelectric power. The largest water system in South America is the Amazon River, ts the world's second largest river. It travels across 6,400km of land, and has more than ten times the water volume of the Mississippi River. People travel across these rivers year round, transporting goods and people.

Chapter 8, Section 2

1. Which climate regions are represented in Latin America? The different climates that are shown in Latin America are tropical wet, tropical dry, humid subtropical, and dry climates. Theses different climates depend on where the area is.

2. How do Latin America’s location and landforms affect climates even within particular regions? In Latin America you may be inside the Tropics, but the climate is still affected by the elevation. For example, if your in the tropics you would expect it to be nice, sunny, and warm, but if you are at an elevation of 8,000 feet the temperature will probably be 60degrees.

Creative Writing: Pretend you are on a hiking tour of one of the climate regions of Latin America. In the form of a journal entry, write about the area you are hiking by describing its vegetation and climate. Dear Journal,
What a day its been. The hike is dangerous, but exhilarating. The guide said we are around 12,000 feet. He only knows a certain amount of English so hes mostly quite during the day, which lets me think a lot. It puzzles me that as we climb higher and higher there is less and less trees. Also the weather has started to get cooler, thank goodness that I brought an extra pair of socks. I should get a good nights sleep before I hike tomorrow.
-Devin

chapter 7 assesment

Chapter 7, Section 1

1. How has the development of a postindustrial economy in the United States and Canada affected where and how people live? The development of of a postindustrial economy in both Canada and the United States affects where people live because the company chooses where the product would work best. For example, high-tech companies look for good weather and good location for their factories, also where people would work in them. So a company might make a family move half way cross the country because its the ideal place for their product.

2. How are the economies of the United States and Canada interdependent with each other and with those in other parts of the world? The economies of the United States and Canada are interdependent within each other by imports and exports, also by low cost labor plants. Canada earns mostly as much in exports that the United States spends in exports.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph about the economies of the United States and Canada that explains how the terms market economy, postindustrial economy, and global economy are related. Both of the United States and Canada have a market economy, postindustrial economy and a global economy. In a market economy, both countries allow their people to own their own business, operate it, and make a profit from it. A market economy lets businesses hire and pay people to work for them, and it allows them to protect private property rights. A postindustrial economy is when the economies put less emphasis on heavy industry and traditional manufacturing and put more emphasis on service and high-tech business. A global economy is when different countries in the world become interconnected and dependent on one and another for goods and services. Canada and the United States are connected through all three of these different economy's.

Chapter 7, Section 2

1. What are examples of three or more ways that the United States and Canada could manage their natural resources more responsibly? Three examples or ways that the United States and Canada could manage their national resources more responsibility are to cut down on using fossil fuels that create smog and part of acid rain. Also power plants and factories need to cut down on releasing so much harmful gasses into the atmosphere. Finally we need to stop dumping harmful chemicals into our water sources, because it damages the wildlife in and around the body of water.

2. What are the causes and effects of pollution in the region? The causes of pollution in the region are harmful chemicals and gases that factories and power plants release into the biosphere. The effect of the pollution is damaging the atmosphere and the land. Smog by air, acid rain by land and chemicals by water.

Creative Writing: The 800-mile (1,300 km) Trans-Alaska Pipeline carries oil from Prudhoe Bay, on the Arctic Ocean, to the port of Valdez, on the Gulf of Alaska. Oil travels through the pipeline at a temperature of over 120° F (80° C). For most of its length, the pipeline is elevated above permafrost to keep the permafrost from thawing. In places the oil is carried in buried, refrigerated pipes. Describe some of the consequences the melting of Arctic permafrost may have on the pipeline over the next 25 years. Some of the consequences of the melting Arctic permafrost is that the permafrost is thawing which is a major factor in this pipeline. Also the pipeline could be blocked because when the permafrost is melting, chunks of the permafrost could block the pipe.

chapter 6 assesment

Chapter 6, Section 1

1. How are population patterns in the United States influenced by the region’s physical geography and by the development of industry and technology? Population patterns in the United States are influenced by the regions physical geography, since many people have different likes and dislikes. For example, many people are attracted to Southern California because of the warm weather all year long. Also population patterns are influenced by the development of industry and technology since the government encouraged people to move to different areas to develop more technology.

2. What are four cultural elements influenced by the immigrant roots of the United States? Four cultural element that are influenced by the immigrant roots of the United States are language and religion, education and health care, the arts, and family life.

Creative Writing: Write a biography of an early settler in the United States from the time he or she arrives in New York harbor in 1845, at the age of 20, until his or her death at the age of 70. She came to the United States at the age of 21. Her name is Marie, she came from Italy with the rest of her family. Marie came in the year 1846, to New York. In her life she moved across the country, slowly, but she did. Along the way she lived in many cities and new states. In the last years of her life she was one of the first settlers in California in the San Fransisco area, with the rest of her family.

Chapter 6, Section 2

1. What are two economic factors that encouraged growth of Canada’s western population? Two economic factors that encourage growth of Canada's western population are the discovery of petroleum and trade between Canada and Asia.

2. How do the country’s religious practices and languages reflect the immigrant history of Canada? The country's religious practices and language reflect the immigrant history of Canada by mostly being French and English. Since it was the French and English that mostly settled Canada the two major cultures are French and English.

Creative Writing: Imagine that the American colonies did not separate from Great Britain and remained a part of the British Empire. How might the history and development of Canada have been affected? If the American colonies did not separate from Great Britain then Canada would also still be part of the British empire. Canada would have never been created, and the country would not be half French.

chapter 5 assesment

Chapter 5, Section 1

1. How have the river systems and landforms of the United States and Canada played important roles in this region’s development? The landforms of Canada and the United States play an important role in the regions development by giving these countries their personalities. For example, in the western United States and western Canada there are multiple mountain ranges that were made by the tectonic plates moving. Also there are many plateaus and dry basins that were also created by lava from the earth moving. River systems have helped develop these countries by making the land fertile. Also the water helped make cities grow.

2. What are some of the major geographical factors and natural resources that have played an important part in the economic development of the United States and Canada? Some of the major geographical features and natural resources that have played a part in the economic development of Canada and the United States are fossil fuels, minerals, timber, and fishing. Fossil fuels and minerals are found mostly everywhere on the North America continent, but there are certain areas that have more than others. Timber is very important for the United States and Canada, but in order to have the resource people need to be responsible about it. Fishing takes place in all the oceans and seas that surround Canada and America, but overfishing has led to decreases in fish population.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph describing the landforms that would be visible from an airplane window if you were flying across North America, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Seattle, Washington. Assume that you are flying low enough to see the ground. When flying over the Untied States there are many different landforms that you could see. Starting out, when you first leave the airport you will probably be flying over the Appalachian Mountains. After an hour you will probably be flying over the Mississippi river. Then for most of the ride you will be able to see the Great Plains, where a lot of food is grown. Then for the remainder of the flight you will be flying over the Rocky Mountains.

Chapter 5, Section 2

1. What climate regions are found in the United States and Canada? Some of the climate regions found in Canada and the United States are warm and wet climates and warm and dry climates. Normally the warm and wet climates are around swamps and wetlands. The warm and dry climates are normally around deserts and mountains, also Southern California is a good example of this weather.

2. What are three of the weather-related hazards found in the United States and Canada? Three of the weather related hazards found in the United States and Canada are supercells, chinook, and blizzards. Supercells are violent spring and summer thunderstorms that create spawn tornadoes in the Great Plains and eastern United States. Chinook is a warm dry wind that blows down snow on the eastern slopes of the Rockies in early spring. Blizzards occur mostly everywhere in the northern North America, blowing snow with little or no visibility.

Creative Writing: Why might two cities at about the same latitude, such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (40.0º N), and Salt Lake City, Utah (40.45º N), have widely differing climates? Write a paragraph justifying your conclusion. Pennsylvania and Utah have different climates because of the different elevations that the two cities are at. For example Salt Lake City is at higher elevation because it is in the Rocky Mountains, also it is around 1,600 to 6,500 feet up. While Philadelphia is around 650 to 1,600 feet high. The different elevations can make the climate differ significantly.

chapter 4 assesment

Chapter 4, Section 2

1. What factors define a culture? People who share similar beliefs and customs. Culture could be language, religion, daily life, history, art, government, and economy.

2. What developments have affected interaction between cultures in recent years? Some developments that have affected the interaction between cultures in recent years are new ideas, different lifestyles, new inventions, war, migration, and trade. Cultural diffusion can also lead to no interaction with different cultures.

Creative Writing: Imagine what your daily life would be like if the information revolution had not occurred, and there were no personal computers, information storage devices, or Internet. Write a paragraph describing what your day would be like, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. When I first wake up in the morning I would get up, eat breakfast, then would have spend the rest of the morning playing some sort of game with my sisters. In the afternoon I would eat lunch, then spend my afternoon till dinner either reading or doing an activity outside. At night I would eat dinner then spend the remaining hours of the day with my family. Then I would go to sleep.

Chapter 4, Section 3

1. What are the differences between the major types of national government in the world today? The three major types of world government are autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy. Autocracy is a government ruled by one singe person. Oligarchy is the type of government that only a small group of people have power. The final government is a democracy, which is leaders rule by the citizens.

2. Give examples of the major types of economic systems in the world. There are three types of major economic systems in the world which are traditional, market, and command. Traditional economy is when habit and custom determine the rules for all economic activity. Market economy is when individuals and private groups make decisions about what to produce. Command economy is when the government owns and directs the means of production and controls the distribution f goods.

Creative Writing: You live within a democratic government system and a market economy. Write a paragraph explaining some of the advantages to you under this government and economic system, as well as the some of the disadvantages. Some of the advantages under a democratic government is that I can choose what I want to happen to our government, and also who is going to be in charge of the government. Also under market economy I can choose what I want to buy and what I don;t want to buy. Some disadvantages about our government is that its all of the country voting and you may not get the person you want in office. Also, a disadvantage for market economy is that the government may get too involved with the economy.

Chapter 4, Section 4

1. What is a major factor in determining a country’s economic development and trade relationships? A major factor in determining a country's economic development and trade relationships is how they react with the environment. A country's way with dealing with the environment and surrounding countries shows how they will react with trade and the building of their economy.

2. How do human economic activities affect the environment? Human economic activities affect the environment by polluting Earth's water, land, and air. Earth's water naturally purifies itself, but sometimes oil spills, chemical dumps, fertilizers and pesticides can damage the water supply. Land becomes polluted when chemical waste and radioactive waste pollutes the topsoil that we grow our food on. air becomes polluted when the burning of fossil fuels and chemical fumes go into the air. Even when human communities push further and further into nature, that is damaging Earth's environment also.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph agreeing or disagreeing with the statement: “Only developed countries need to replace their dependence on fossil fuels with the use of renewable energy resources.” Explain your reasoning. I disagree with this statement. In order for us to stop burning all of our fossil fuels, every country on the Earth needs to stop burning them. Every country should find a way to use renewable energy resources, not just developed countries.